November 23, 2013

Yesterday, Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio announced the appointment of 60 New York leaders to his transition committee. He instructed them to “identify women and men from every part of our city and walk of life” that wants a better New York. He lied. Also lying was Transition Co-Chair Jennifer Jones Austin, who said that committee members “come from every slice of civic life—business and labor, science and the arts, clergy….” (My italic.)

In fact, there are two ministers, two rabbis and one imam on the transition committee. There are no Catholic priests. Catholics make up 52.5 percent of New York, yet they have no clergy representation. This is not an oversight: every attempt was made to include persons from virtually every sector of New York. This was clearly done by design. Looks like de Blasio’s politics of inclusion has its limits.

To make matters worse, de Blasio showed his contempt for Catholics by naming to his transition committee the man who insulted them in 1999 with the “Sensation” exhibit, Arnold L. Lehman, director of the Brooklyn Museum of Art. That exhibit featured a portrait of Our Blessed Mother with elephant dung and pornographic cut outs on it. I led a demonstration against it.

Plan to attend and give support at this Preliminary Hearing between the two Plaintiffs’ attorneys, the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) and the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) against the City of New York. This follows the passage of the new City Council law that brazenly attacks Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs).

New York City Council member Dan Halloran rallied local residents in Manhattan and Queens to help fight against passage of the bill, formerly known as 371A. But despite these efforts and many other pro-life and legal protests, Mayor Mike Bloomberg signed into law the Pregnancy Services Center Law, now Local Law 12 of 2011, on March 16th. Chris Slattery tells us that the Mayor admitted to him and Attorney Tiffany Barrons from the American Center for Law and Justice at the signing ceremony that he did not know if the new law was constitutional (!).

EMC Needs our Financial Support to Help Women!

“EMC is in our 26th year of operation,” says Chris Slattery. We've counseled over 110,000 women and saved 40,000 lives. NYC is trying to stop the vital ULTRASOUND program in Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx.”

The Msgr. Francis J. Dillon Knights of Columbus Council #5872 helped raise $6,000 in funds on May 19th towards the purchase of ULTRASOUND equipment costing $20,500. EMC is seeking matching funds from the K of C’s Supreme Council. Your local Knights Council’s contribution would be a big help in this effort!! You can donate online right now at www.emcfrontline.org/ or email Chris at slatteryny@gmail.com; or call 914-224-5773.

“Expectant Mother Care-EMC Frontline Pregnancy Centers provide free counseling and ULTRASOUND imaging to expectant mothers who are deciding whether to abort their child so they can make a fully informed decision. Last year EMC provided 4000 Ultrasounds. Between 2400 and 2500 mothers chose life in NYC where 87,000 babies were slaughtered by abortion in the last reported year (2009). By providing ULTRASOUND imaging, the EMC Centers have prevented countless abortions.”

May 11, 2011

The Knights of Columbus is holding its annual prayer rally in Albany today. Hundreds of people are praying and asking lawmakers to support them in opposing same-sex marriage and the Reproductive Health Act, which would update New York’s abortion laws in the event of action on the federal level that limits or restricts abortion. The Knights of Columbus are also praying for the state to reimburse Catholic schools for 100 percent of the costs they incur in complying with state mandates, as required by a 37-year-old state law.

“We've just participated in a historical moment,” parliamentary speaker Laszlo Kover said to the Associated Press. “The new constitution is built upon our past and traditions, but seeks and contains answers to current problems while keeping an eye on the future.”

February 20, 2011

The vote was 240-185 to de-fund. Seven Republicans voted against the bill and ten Democrats for it. One Republican voted "present" (?) and there were seven representatives who did not vote.

Republican Nan Hayworth, who is prochoice/proabortion and defeated prochoice/proabortion John Hall last year in the NY 19th Congressional District, had campaigned in favor of legal abortion but opposed to government funding. However in recent days she had been non-committal on how she would vote on de-funding.

February 18, 2011

We wrote to you earlier this week asking you to contact members of the House in support of efforts to defund Planned Parenthood.

Just a few minutes ago, the House of Representatives voted 240-185 to add Amendment #11 to the Continuing Resolution bill. This amendment, introduced by Representative Mike Pence, prohibits any federal government money going to Planned Parenthood until, at least, September 30, 2011.

It is a major victory and your prayers and actions made it happen.

The fight is not over. This amendment must also be passed in the Senate. It will be a major struggle and Planned Parenthood is already saying it will put all of its emphasis on defeating it in the Senate. Planned Parenthood has over $1 billion to throw at this.

We, at American Life League will continue to be there for you as the battle rages. Our congressional team is ready to educate every senator on the evils of Planned Parenthood. We believe we can win, but we need your help.

First, please pray for our efforts.

Then, please send us your maximum donation as soon as you can. We will need funds for producing material to counteract what Planned Parenthood has promised to be a massive propaganda effort on its part.

Republicans have had the opportunity to de-fund Planned Parenthood many times over the years and failed. Do they have the will and the courage to pay more than lip service now? In the wake of the Philadelphia Horror and related “women’s health” butcher cases, the momentum to strip the abortion industry racket of taxpayer funding is stronger than ever. Over the past several years, some brave undercover journalists at Live Action Films — long chronicled on this blog — have repeatedly exposed the group’s willingness to aid and abet sexual predators, skirt disclosure laws, and perpetuate a criminal enterprise at the expense of pregnant mothers and their unborn children’s health, safety, and lives.

My column today recaps the shameful history of Planned Parenthood predation — and points out that the open, systematic undermining of parental authority by the abortion radicals deserves as much scrutiny as what they do on hidden cameras.

February 11, 2011

The following notice comes to the HVCL from Richard Brand. Rich and his wife Marie helped organize for the Yonkers Respect Life Week event at the Polish Center recently. Do your research and help them out!

Hi-

There will be a special election on Tuesday, February 15th for County Legislator in the 12th County Legislative District. This seat was formally held by Tom Abinanti who was elected to the State Assembly in November. There is a clear choice for the vacant position. We are supporting Nicholas DeCicco who is pro-life and running on the Republican line. His opponent, MaryJane Shimsky, is a Democrat and totally for the choice of abortion. Since this is a special election, voter turnout will be low so every vote really counts.

We must do what we can to have DeCicco elected. We have his palm cards that can be distributed outside the churches in the 12th district. While they do not specifically reference his pro-life position,we can hand them out after Masses at designated churches and tell parishioners to vote for him as a pro-life/pro-family candidate. Churches in Hastings, Dobbs Ferry, and Irvington will be covered by Liz Costanza's group.

Can you help pass out the literature at Sat./Sun. Masses? I have the Mass schedules. Please let me know if you and others you know can help. We will finalize distribution assignments by Friday night and arrange for distribution of the palm cards. Thanks!

January 11, 2011

Last night 21,613 people jammed onto the "Unplanned"webcast to hear former Planned Parenthood clinicdirector Abby Johnson reveal what she experiencedinside the abortion business -- and why she resignedher job and joined the pro-life movement.

The positive comments are still pouring in!

We know some people had a hard time getting on due tothe high demand, so we rushed to get the recording ofthe event online for you. You can listen now at:

http://instantteleseminar.com/?eventid=16864185

The webcast served as a sneak preview for TODAY'Srelease of Abby's tell-all book, "Unplanned," whichis being published in an historic arrangement betweenTyndale House, Focus on the Family, and IgnatiusPress, and endorsed by dozens of prominent leadersand respected organizations.

You can download and read Chapter 1 of "Unplanned,"along with many of the endorsements, for FREE (as aPDF document) at:

http://40daysforlife.s3.amazonaws.com/chapter1.pdf

You won't be the same after reading that chapter!

During the webcast we announced that Ignatius Presshas published a special edition of "Unplanned" withexclusive bonus content, including:

* Foreword by Fr. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life

* Introduction by David Bereit, our 40 Days for Life national director, on the power that prayer played in Abby's conversion (you will LOVE this!)

* Publisher's Note from Fr. Joseph Fessio, student and friend of Pope Benedict XVI, and founder of Ignatius Press, on the monumental impact that he expects to see due to Abby's book

To make things even better for the webcast, IgnatiusPress slashed prices on the "Unplanned" special edition by 35% -- their very best pricing!

Unfortunately, the flood of orders -- combined withwhat appears to be a vicious, orchestrated "denial ofservice" attack by those who don't want you readingAbby's book -- caused the Ignatius web server tocrash during our webcast, and many people could notget their copies of "Unplanned."

But are we going to let abortion advocates win theday? NO!!

Instead, let's use this opportunity to send PlannedParenthood and the abortion industry a message.

DAY ONE is the most important day of sales for a newbook. Let's rally together TODAY to set sales recordsand send "Unplanned" up the bestseller charts on thefirst day it is available.

That will send shock waves through the abortionbusiness, and will get the attention of the secularmedia -- helping to spread this message far and wide!

Now, let me be totally transparent ... 40 Days forLife is not being compensated a single nickel forpromoting this book. We just believe in it 100% andwant to share it with everyone we know!

With that said, Ignatius Press worked late into thenight fortifying their web servers -- and now they'reready! Go grab copies of "Unplanned" for yourself,friends, family members, people at church, and otherpro-lifers at:

http://www.UnplannedBook.com

But make sure to do it TODAY, if at all possible, soit counts toward DAY ONE totals.

Let's make this a tipping point moment in our effortsto end abortion!

For Life,

Shawn CarneyCampaign Director40 Days for Life

P.S.- As you read "Unplanned" you will be in awe to discover the vital role 40 Days for Life played in Abby's conversion -- underscoring the importance of your prayers and efforts! Prepare to be blessed as you read this book:

http://www.UnplannedBook.com

P.P.S.- The next 40 Days for Life campaign will beconducted from March 9 - April 17. Many people haveasked when their city can apply to participate inthat campaign. The answer: starting next Monday,January 17! Stay tuned for more details.

January 04, 2011

According to the Westchestergov.com press release on December 30, 2010,

"County Executive Robert P. Astorino today named a new commissioner of Social Services, selecting a person with almost three decades of bottom-to-top professional experience in health and human services to oversee the county's largest department...Kevin M. McGuire, a one-time New York City social services caseworker who up until this week was executive director of the Maryland Department of Human Resources Family Investment Administration, was selected following a nationwide search. He will begin his new job next week."

Also,

"McGuire began his career in the human services field in 1981 as a caseworker in the South Bronx for the new York City Human Resources Administration. He stayed with the department until 2003 in a variety of positions that focused on programs as well as date processing and technology. Form 1998-2003 he served as the Bronx deputy regional manager, where he was part of the team that planned and implemented New York City's successful welfare reform efforts."

Read more about him at the County website at www3.westchestergov.com. We are hopeful that he, like Rob Astorino and others, will bring conservative and life affirming sensibilities to his new position in service to all the people of our County.

November 18, 2010

On November 16, Theresa Bonopartis, Chris Slattery and representatives for and against the Council Legislation #371 met in Council chambers to speak their minds and hearts about the Council's attempt to curtail, fine, and eventually shut down crisis pregnancy centers throughout the City and they hope, nationwide.

"This is about truth in advertising and women's health," said Council Member Jessica Lappin, the bill's primary sponsor. "There are two dozen anti-choice centers masquerading as health clinics right here in New York City….Rather than provide full and accurate medical information to women they mislead and manipulate them."

But abortion opponents defended the centers as providing legitimate counseling and an alternative for women who don't want to have an abortion. They called the proposal a violation of First Amendment rights and threatened legal action if it passes.

Chris Slattery, president of Expectant Mother Care Frontline Pregnancy Centers, which operates 12 centers, said some of its centers have medical affiliations and licensed staff. He acknowledged that not all of them do and that licensed staff isn't always on the premises. "We can document thousands of experiences, negative, at abortion clinics in New York," he testified

This legislation is an embarrassment, even by New York standards. Where are the champions of the First Amendment? Do other legitimate businesses understand how this type of coercive legislation will effect them? Planned Parenthood, NARAL and other organizations that are fed monetarily and politically by the abortion industry are hungry for more. This time it is retribution against the success of pregnancy care centers that are trying to give women a choice other than abortion. I thought we were all interested in fewer abortions? Remember "safe, legal and rare"? This legislation rips the masks off those pretenders. Let your voices be heard, citizens!

According to the Susan B. Anthony List, which works to elect pro-life candidates, especially pro-life women, “The percentage of women in the House of Representatives who are pro-life increased by 60 percent while the percentage of women who are pro-choice decreased by 16 percent.” Additionally, one pro-life woman was elected to the Senate (from New Hampshire); previously there had been none. And there are now four pro-life women governors in the U.S., outnumbering the two legal-abortion-activist women governors, who are both up for reelection in 2012.

Cardinal-designate Raymond Burke stressed to Catholic voters in a recent interview that they have a “very serious” obligation to uphold the truth of “moral law” in the upcoming mid-term elections. He specifically cited protecting unborn children from abortion and defending traditional marriage.

October 21, 2010

Make your voices heard on this critical issue - this will be a long battle!

Christopher Slattery, founder and president of Expectant Mother Care: EMC Frontline Pregnancy Centers, was recognized for over two decades of untiring work on behalf of mothers in crisis pregnancies and their pre-born children.

Chris thanked everyone for the recognition he and Elizabeth Costanzo, executive director of the Right to Life Party, received that evening. Chris opened eyes when he spoke about the current efforts of New York City Council members to stifle EMC Frontline's crisis pregnancy center efforts on behalf of women.

Here is a Daily News editorial opposing the City Council pending legislation.

Contact: Ed Riely (914) 271-5585 Liz Costanzo (914) 478-1189 Right to Life Party

Right to Life Groups Defy Party Pick by Declaring Neil DiCarlo Write-in Campaign for Congressional District 19

The Leadership of Lower Hudson Valley Right to Life Groups in Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland, and Orange Counties announced their recommendations to pro-life and pro-values voters in the 19th Congressional District* currently represented by pro-abortion congressman John Hall. Hall’s challenger is Nan Hayworth a pro-abortion ophthalmologist from the Town of Bedford in Westchester County.

These pro-life leaders had previously communicated with Republican and Conservative leaders in the five counties warning them of the implications of nominating a pro-abortion candidate to this congressional seat. Republican candidate Hayworth supports all aspects of Planned Parenthood’s pro-abortion agenda on hundreds of issues with three exceptions she says. Hayworth has stated that she opposes the use of taxpayer funds to pay for abortions, supports parental notification legislation, and says she opposes late-term abortions. Her husband Scott, an OB-GYN and President of Mount Kisco Medical Group, did abortions in the past, and heads the OB-GYN organization primarily responsibile for writing and lobbying the NY State Legislature for some of the most radically pro-abortion legislation seen in America, the so-called “Reproductive Health Act.” Scott Hayworth has personally lobbied legislators for passage of this legislation.

John Hall on the other hand is fully supportive of the federal and state abortion-on-demand polices of Planned Parenthood and its advocacy groups: NARAL, Family Planning Advocates of NYS, and Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion. Hall opposed federal and state legislation banning partial birth abortion techniques and opposes fetal pain legislation. He supports the use of taxpayer funds to pay for the killing of human lives. Hall rushed to pay for embryonic stem cell research with public funds as soon as he became a member of Congress. He has become one of the abortion lobby’s most reliable supporters.

Given the fact that neither Hayworth nor Hall value human life, unborn in the womb, disabled, or terminally ill, WE CANNOT AND WILL NOT SUPPORT either one of them for any public office at any level. We will recommend to our members, and to all citizens of good will that they instead vote for Neil DiCarlo by WRITE-IN, be proud of their vote, and feel clean about it. Neil DiCarlo is thoroughly pro-life and a hard working citizen of our district who shares our values. DiCarlo was a vigorous candidate and ran spirited campaign for this seat in the recent high turnout republican primary. He received almost a third of the vote in spite of spending $29,000 to his opponents $650,000. As for picking winners and losers in the general election, we’ll let God take care of that. We work politically: to have pro-life candidates to vote for, to promote the value of children’s lives in public debate, and to influence the political process. We will do our duty and stand up for unborn children when we vote on November 2nd!!

*The 19th Congressional District includes: two towns in Rockland, nine towns and cities in northern Westchester County, all of Putnam County, Southern Dutchess County, and eighty percent of Orange County.

Said Colety, “I am pleased to announce that the Republican town and city leaders in the 18th Congressional District have voted to support Cortes DeRussy in his bid to represent the 18th Congressional District. The Republican Party is committed to not only giving the voters an alternative to Tax and Spend Nita Lowey, but to winning this critical seat. Cortes DeRussy is a true fiscal conservative and tax fighter who will stand up for the taxpayers of the 18th District. His message will resonate with voters who are ready for a change after more than 20 years of Nita Lowey’s consistent votes for higher taxes and spending. I look forward to working with Cortes over the next two weeks to ensure that he is victorious on November 2nd.”

DeRussy is a resident of Yonkers and has lived in Westchester County for almost 40 years. He was a trustee in the Village of Bronxville for two terms and has served on numerous civic and not-for-profit boards.

The 18th Congressional District is composed of part of Westchester County and Rockland County.

October 05, 2010

The HVCL invites you to join in the candidates' debate on October 12 at the Winery at St. George on Route 6 in Mahopac. "Values voters" make up a large portion of the general voting block in New York and include many conservative and independent voters who have been making their voices heard through Tea Party events and candidates. We believe that these core conservative principles must be debated honestly by candidates and understood by voters before going to the polls. They are fundamentally connected to NY State's direction and to Albany's economic crisis and woes. We need more debates like this! Here is the invitation from the WPRTLC for the 40th NYS Senate District and the 99th NYS Assembly District:

"Each year, as citizens try to decide on how to vote, there are many questions on each candidate's position on family values and community issues. Most of the political rhetoric we hear is centered on taxes, government ineptitude and candidate mudslinging.

The Westchester and Putnam Right to Life Committee will host a debate on Tuesday evening, October 12, at 7 p.m. at the Winery at St. George, 1715 E. Main Street (Rt. 6) in Mohegan Lake, NY. All the candidates for the 40th NYS District (Greg Ball and Mike Kaplowitz) and the 99th NYS Assembly district (Steve Katz, Jim Borkowski & Brendan Tully) have been invited to participate. We hope they will participate and we can get some straight answers from them. Join us for the debate!"

Oddly, Mr. Lazio won the Conservative Party's primary and will appear on the ballot in November. This could be a significant problem for the Conservative Party, which has to get 50,000 votes in the gubernatorial race in order to stay on the ballot.

2. Attorney General's Race

Eric Schneiderman won the Democratic nomination for AG. This is very bad. He is a pro-abortion, pro-same-sex "marriage" zealot who likes to boast that he used to work as an abortion clinic escort. He will oppose Dan Donovan, the Staten Island DA, who is pro-life.

3. US Senate Races

In the race for the seat held by pro-abortion Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, the Republican nomination was won by Joe DioGuardi, an old pro-lifer who served in Congress many years ago.

In the race for pro-abortion Sen. Charles Schumer's seat, the Republican nomination was won by Jay Townsend, a pro-lifer.

September 10, 2010

Citizens! It is becoming more and more vital that values voters exercise their right to vote on Primary and General Election Days. This coming week on Tuesday, September 14, cast your ballot in the Republican and Conservative Party Primary elections!

The Right to Life Party has worked hard to give you the latest and best-possible pro life candidate information. These candidates have been vetted for their pro life values and (hopefully) pro life views once elected. Like all human endeavors this grassroots process is imperfect, but while some candidates disappoint, most do not as they try to incorporate defense of the unborn and understanding of the dignity of all human life (this should be everyone's goal!) into their sworn elected office responsibilities. Think about Mayor Amicone in Yonkers and County Executive Rob Astorino. Where we do not succeed at the polls, we succeed in sharing vital, life-affirming information through participation in the electoral process.

Go to the website above or below; copy and bring into the voting booth for your convenience! Share this information with others who might ask you for candidate voting suggestions.

August 24, 2010

Just a reminder that the Westchester-Putnam Right to Life PAC October 15 Gala Dinner Journal is in publishing stages. If you have not submitted an ad, a business card, or simply joined as a booster for only $10.00, please do so today!

Westchester Putnam Right to Life PACGala DinnerJournal Subscription

To further our mission to protect the Right to Life of all human beings, born and unborn, and to promote civic, political, and social reforms necessary to insure this right, we will hold a Gala Dinner on Friday, October 15, 2010 at 7 p.m. at Antun's Restaurant in Westchester.

County Executive Rob Astorino will be our distinguished guest speaker.Our two Honorees are Elizabeth Costanzo, Executive Director of the Westchester Right to Life Party, and Christopher Slattery, Founder and President of Expectant Mother Care: EMC Frontline Pregnancy Centers.

Proceeds from our First Annual Journal will greatly assist us in our work; we rely entirely on thegenerosity of friends like you. An advertisement, a message of support, memorials, business cards, or personal names as a show of support as a "booster" can be included. Our Journal size is 8-1/2" x 11".

BE A PART OF THIS VITAL WORK! Just provide your camera-ready ads, artwork, or business cards for the following:

Full middle pages.....$1000.00Inside back cover.........500.00 Full page......................200.00Half page......................100.00Quarter page..................50.00Business cards...............25.00Boosters.........................10.00

Please circle your requested ad page size, fill out the form below and enclose your materials. As a courtesy, we can do setup, if necessary. Please make checks payable to Westchester Putnam Right to Life PAC. Mail to:WPRTLPACP.O. Box 157Katonah, N.Y. 10536

Deadline for advertisements is Wednesday, September 1, but don't hesitate - ACT NOW to help make this Journal a big success! If you have any questions, please call Joy Dechiario at 914-803-0057.

Meanwhile, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican who is not pro-life, says she, too, will vote no on Kagan on the Senate floor.

"As Ms. Kagan acknowledges, the cases that come before the Supreme Court are difficult in nature and not always answered by precedent. Over the past week Ms. Kagan has given the American people hardly any idea about how she will approach these difficult cases," the senator said.

"Her responses to many of the questions posed by my colleagues on the Judiciary Committee were clever and graceful but not terribly revealing and in many cases evasive," Murkowski added.

The Alaska senator also expressed hesitation because Kagan shows little judicial or legal experience preparing her for serving on the nation's highest court.

“I did not support Ms. Kagan’s nomination to be Solicitor General of the United States because I did not think she had the requisite experience for the job. It is not essential that a Supreme Court nominee have experience as a judge but those who lacked that experience had substantial experience in the practice of law," she said.

She concluded, " Kagan has spent the bulk of her career as an academic, a university administrator and policy advisor. For the reasons I have cited here, I plan to oppose her nomination when it comes before the Senate."

McConnell's and Murkowski's opposition come on the heels of pro-life Sen. Orrin Hatch becoming the first member of the Senate Judiciary Committee to announce his opposition to Kagan.

June 29, 2010

Contact Tom Bock today and arrange to sign his petition or help carry petitions if you are a member of the Republican Party or a Notary Public. He is running in the NYS 92nd Assembly District that includes Greenburgh, Mt. Pleasant, small portion of northern Yonkers. Tom is a great prolife candidate who deserves your support!

ACTION ALERT! New York State "Reproductive Health Act," S.5808/A.11484:

Call Senator Leibell's local office at 845-279-3773 and they will contact Albany. Use letter below for some talking points. Call your Senator today!

Sister Lucy Marie Vasile at the Sisters of Life, NYS Catholic Conference, Hudson Valley Coalition for Life and No. Westchester and Putnam Center for Life are all on board here. The legislative session in Albany is scheduled to end within days and there's still a grave risk that the Reproductive Health Act may come to the floor of the Senate for a vote.

This radical bill would establish abortion as a "fundamental right" and eliminate any possibility of reasonable regulations, such as parental notification laws. It may also seriously threaten the religious liberty of our Church, especially religious hospitals, schools, and social welfare agencies. For more information, please visit the website of the New York State Catholic Conference: http://www.nyscatholic.org/pages/news/show_newsDetails.asp?id=343.

Now, it is all the more important that we contact our Senators to express our opposition to this bill. Even if you have done this before, you should do it again. No Senator's vote should be taken for granted, and none should be conceded.

Here is the Catholic Advocacy Network sample letter at the above link on RHA, S.5808/A11484

"As your constituent, I write to register my strong opposition to the Reproductive Health Act," S.5808/A.11484. This bill contains very broad language that would declare a fundamental 'right of privacy' in state law. It opens the door to extreme results. It would:

- Legalize abortion through all nine months of pregnancy, for virtually any reason; - Make abortion immune from any reasonable state regulation such as parental notification or informed consent; - Repeal current law that requires doctors to perform abortions and allow any "health care practitioner" to provide it.

It could:

- Force all hospitals to allow abortions, including religious hospitals and others whose mission statements oppose it; - Force all insurance plans, including those of Catholic employers, to cover abortion; - Compel doctors and nurses to counsel for abortion, refer for abortion and otherwise facilitate abortion against their wishes.

Contrary to the notion that this bill would allow "freedom of choice," this proposal would deny freedom of choice to individuals and institutions that prefer not to support or condone abortion. Because the bill declares that the state "may not discriminate" against the exercise of abortion in providing "benefits, facilities, services or information," it could compel every institution licensed or funded by the state to support, cover and/or allow abortions.

While this legislation is being promoted as a mere "update" to New York's laws, in reality it is an extreme measure that would prevent you, the legislature, the people's elected representatives, from enacting any reasonable and necessary regulations on abortion.

I implore you to do all within your power to prevent this bill from coming to a vote, especially at this late date in the session. Thank you for your attention to these serious concerns. I look forward to hearing from you.

May 24, 2010

Mr. Carl Paladino, successful Buffalo businessman, is looking to win the Republican primary, in part, because he is the only completely pro-life candidate for Governor of New York. His platform is one of practical fiscal reform that will halt New York's tax and spend politics, create jobs and incentivize business, and demand transparency and accountability to the people. For these reasons he was the welcomed guest on Friday, May 21, at the Yonkers Hudson Cliff House home of Mr. & Mrs. Steve Acunto. Mr. Acunto is the Honorable Vice Consul of the Republic of Italy, Chairman of the Italian Academy Foundation, Inc., and founder and president of CINN Group.

Carl Paladino, in addition to his business acumen and his Albany-outsider approach to problems, is refreshingly and staunchly pro-life, defending the inalienable "right to life" of all citizens at every stage of life. He defends as duty the lives of all citizens, from conception to natural death.

The Republican primary race for Governor of New York is also monitoring the busy campaigns of Rick Lazio and Steve Levy. Democrat Andrew Cuomo officially joined the field this weekend, a move that has been expected for some time.

An interesting cross-section of pro-life leaders attended the Yonkers Q&A and luncheon that drew politicians, businessmen and women and community leaders and activists including the Honorable John Spencer, former Mayor of Yonkers and former candidate for U.S. Senate from New York; Joseph J. DioGuardi, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives (and only CPA in Congress) currently running for the U.S. Seante seat of Kirsten Gillibrand.

Also in attendance Elizabeth Costanzo, President of the Westchester Right to Life Party; Barbara Meara, Chairperson of the NYS Right to Life Committee; representatives from Katonah's Montfort Academy; Ralph Lorigo Chairman of the Erie County Conservative Party, Sebastian and Joy Dechiario and Richard Fuerst of the Westchester-Putnam Right to Life Committee; Judith Anderson, co-director of the Hudson Valley Coalition for Life; Sarah Belair and Mary d'Ablemont of Bronxville; representatives from Healthy Respect, a chastity-based sex education program for youth and parents; well-known local political activist, the Honorable Vincenza Restiano, former 12-year President of the Yonkers City Council; Mr. Michael Caputo and Paladino-for-Governor Political Campaign Manager John Haggerty, among others.

May 18, 2010

We can send this at a word document attachment to anyone who would like it -

Westchester-Putnam Right To Life Committee

P.O. Box 157, Katonah, New York10536

(914) 232-1168

May 17, 2010

Mr. Douglas Colety, Chairman

Westchester County Republic Committee

214 Mamaroneck Avenue

White Plains, New York10601

Dear Chairman Colety:

It is our understanding that delegates from the local Republican Committees will be meeting shortly to select candidates for federal, state and local offices in our area.The pro-life community is concerned that the candidates that you select for these offices be strong supporters of family values and the sanctity of human life.In the past, the voters in our area have been given very little opportunity to vote for candidates, from any major party, that they feel comfortable with, who would support these values. Under no circumstances will the pro-life community support any candidate from any party that supports abortion or is not a supporter of family values!

Recent polls have shown that the tide is changing and that the majority of Americans now oppose abortion.The recent passage of the National Health Care Bill, which opens the door for federally funded abortion, has further increased the political awareness of those who support the sanctity of human life.

In the past few years, supporters of life and family values have been extremely active in a number of local races where the candidates have stood up for and supported family values.Of note are the victories of Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino and Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone, as well as Assemblyman Greg Ball, all unabashedly pro-life.Additionally, pro-life citizens worked hard, albeit unsuccessfully, to unseat Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, because of her support for the Reproductive Health Act.These races drew a great deal of support from the pro-life community, both as volunteers and in providing financial support.

At your upcoming meeting, we understand that your committees will have an ample supply of candidates for many of the races you will be considering.On behalf of the pro-life community, we request that you choose candidates who are strong supporters of family values and the sanctity of human life.